Type-writing machine.



-.B. P. FINIGAN. TYPE WRITING MACHINE. vAPPLIOATIOII IILBD MAY 18,

Patented Aug. 13, 1912.

INVENTOR WITNESSES O i/WWW TE STAS FATE FFICE.

BENJAMIN P. FINIGAN, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF QOLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FIFTH TO HENRY H.. BLISS, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

PatentethAug. 13, 1912.

' setting machines, and the like.

In machines of. the character described, type carrying diii'erent characters are manipulated for different purposes. In the typewriter, for instance, each type is so actuated that it is brought in contact with a piece of paper or other fabric up'on which an imprint of the particular character is made. In typesetting machines the type are manipulated in a manner well understood, for

.other purposes. It is characteristic, however, of typewriting, typesetting and other similar machines, that there is a type-operating mechanism, corresponding to each of the several characters which is involved in the operation of the machine and that each of these mechanisms is set in operation by a controlling means, such as a key, which corresponds to its particular mechanism.

The present invention particularly relates to that class of type-operating machines in which a. motor is employed to effect the operation of the type-operating mechanisms after the operator has by any suitable means selected the mechanism to be operated and placed the mot-or in operation. The advantages of machines of this type are well understood, but among them may be mentioned the ease and rapidity with which they may be operated, the uniformity of their action and the relieving of the operator of the manual labor necessary to the operation of the mechanism.

The object of this invention is to simplify and reduce the number of parts of machines of the character described whereby they are more easily and cheaply constructed, more easily operated and less liable to get out of order.

In the accompanying drawings, in which the invention is illustrated in connection with a typewriter, Figure 1 is a vertical section of a typewriter, suiiicient of the parts being shown to illustrate the present inven- 1 tion, Fig. 2 a horizontal section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, the central portion of the machine being broken away, and Fig. 3 shows a modified detail.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings, the typewriter comprises a frame, A, which suppdrts the various parts of the machine including the platen, B, and other well known parts, mounted in well known ways, but which are shown and will hereinafter be referred to only in so far as they are necessary to an understanding of the present invention. Supported by the frame is a rod, C, upon which are fulcrumed the key levers, I), which at their forward ends terminate in the usual bank of keys each bearing the character of the type to the mechanism of which the key is related, as is well understood. The key levers are normally held in an elevated position by means of springs, I), one corresponding to eachlever, mounted upon a slat, F, supported by the frame and extending transversely of the machine. The various type bars are arranged to bring their respective ty'pe against the paper upon the platen in a well known manner and require no further description here. Each of the type-operating mecha-' nisms comprises a type bar, G, carrying a type, '1, and fulcrumed at H, upon a segment bar, I, extending transversely of the machine and which is supported by the frame, a link, L, pivoted to the type bar, (ir, at K, an arm, N, to which the link, L, is pivoted at M, and which is fulcrumcd about the bar, 0. The .bar, 0, is supported by the frame and extends transversely of the machine. The mechanism further comprises a spring, P, mounted upon a bar, Q, which spring tends to hold the arm, N, in elevated position and the type bar, G, in its forward position so that the type is removed from the platen and may rest upon a bar, S, as shown, if desired. To each arm, N, is secured a housing, U, within which slides a. plunger, V, adapted at its forward end to abut against the rear end of a key lever, I), when the key is depressed,'and at its rear end being adapted to be engaged by the motor t" operate the mechanism, as will be hereinafter set forth. A spring, 1V, tends to force the plunger forward.

The motor in theprescnt instance comprises a bar, X, which is universal to all of Y and Z, one at each end, which are fulcrumed at A, respectively, in supports, B and C, mounted upon the base of the machine. Springs, D and E, interposed be tween thesupports and the rear ends of the arms, Y and Z, tend to hold the bar, X, in-

elevated position. The motor further comprises solenoids or electro-magnets one or more as may be found des1rable-arranged to operate the bar, X. I have shown two electromagnets, F and G, one at each end of the bar,'and arranged to operate it by turned to its elevated position. The motor.

is adapted to be actuated by a battery, L, or other suitable source of electricity, the circuit through the source and magnets being completed by the engagement of contacts, M and N. One of the contacts, N, is mounted upon a suitable stationary support, 0, while the other, M, is movable with a key lever, D, and is normally. held away from the contact N. I prefer to mount the movable contact, M upon a universal bar, P arranged under the key levers so as to be moved thereby when they are depressed, but normally held elevated by springs, Q and It, so as to separate the contacts, l and N. It will be obvious-that since the universal bar, P, extends beneath all of the type levers, that upon the depression of any one of them the bar, P, will be depressed, and thereby bring the contacts, M and N, together, close'the circuit of the solenoid and thereby throw the motor into operation. I usually prefer to employ two pairs of contacts placing one pair near each end of the bar P. a

The operation of the machine may now be described. The parts being in position as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, if a key be depressed the lever, D, corresponding to it will also be depressed and the rear end of the level. will abut against the forward end of the plunger, V, driving it backwardly until the flange, K, comes beneath the hood, I. The depression of the lever, D, also operates to depress the universal bar, P, and to close the contacts, M and N. The circuit of the magnets being thus closed through the source, L, the magnets become energized and attract their armatures, thereby depressing the bar, X, and its flange or hood, I.

In thus moving, the flange J engages with the rear end of the plunger, V, which has been driven backward by the operation of the key lever,D, that has just been struck, and operates it (the plunger) and-the particular arm, N, with which theplunger is connected. This causes the operation of the type bar that corresponds with the key that has been depressed. It is tobe observed in this connection that only the mechanism,

corresponding to the depressed key-will be operated as it is the plunger of this mecha-r nism only which will be thrown ina position to be engaged by the hood, Iythe other plungers remaining in their forward 'posi;

tions. Upon the release of the depressed key the contacts, M and N. will'separate, thus breaking the circuit throng]? the magnets when the springs, D and will re-' turn the bar, X, to its elevated position and.

a key lever independently of each other. 1

The construction is thus rendered extremely simple and complication of parts being avoided the ease of operation is enhanced. It will also be obvious that by operating the motor from the key-lever through a train of mechanical and electrical 'conne'c-- tions, all independent of the plunger, I am enabled to prevent the operation of any keylever and the consequent downward actuation ofthe motor before the key-lever of the last operated type mechanismis permitted to return to its normal position. I accomplish this with the aid of the lip J and the flange K; Thus while lip J carried by the motor is in engagement with one plunger V, by reason of the circuit being closed be- ?cause one of the key-levers is in its lowermost position, it is impossible to press down another key-lever since the corresponding plunger would be prevented from moving by contact of the lower edge of its flange K with the outside surface of the lip J. It is thus insured'that the contacts N and M will not be placed in engagement a second time before the plunger of the last used key has been released and both the piling up of the type bars, and theactuation of-the motor when notin engagement .with some one of the plungers will be prevented.

In Fig. 3 of the drawings is shown a construction whereby the engagement between the key lever and the plunger is modified. 3

In. this figure a lever, S, is interposed be.- tween the plunger and the key lever, the said interposed lever being fulcrumed at T, and being adapted at one end to abut against the plunger while its other end'is forked I to receive a pin, U, upon the key lever. lit will be apparent that upon depression ol the 'key the portion of the hey lever which is in engagement with the t'orked end of the lever S, will be raised, thereby raisingthe torlted end of the lever, cl, while the opposite end of the lever, S, Will be thrown against the end of the plunger so that the latter will be moved rearwardly.

Vhile the invention has been illustrated in what is considered one of its best embodiments, it is to be nnderstooc'i that it may be embodied in other structures and applied to other uses without departing from the spirit of the invention. "the invei'ition should not, therefore be limited to the structure or application shown.

WVhat ll claim and desire to secure by Let; ters Patent is 1. In a type-operating machine, the combination with a plurality of type-operating mechanisms, of a plunger for eaclrof said mechanisms, a key lever corresponding to each of said plungcrs and necluiuic: lly independent; of its type-operatinggg mechanism, a motor adapted to engage with any of said plungcrs, each of said levers being adapted to move its corresponding plunger into post tion to he engaged by said motor, a stationary electrical contact, a imiversa'i bar adapted to be moved by direct Contact with the key levers and provided with an eirct trical contact adapted to engage said stationary electrical contact", and electrical means for throwing said motor into opera tion operatively connected with said. universal bar.

2 In a type-operating; machine, the combination With a plurality of ty[)0-()} )ifltltlt1g mechanisms, of a motor, a hey lever corrcspending to eachv of said mechanisms but mechanically independent there trom, means operated by each of said hey levers 't'or connecting, its corresponding mechanism with said motor, a statioi'iary electrical contact, a universal bar adapted to be moved by direct contact with the key lever and provided with an electrical contact adapted to engage said stationary electrical contact, and electrical means for throwing said motor into operation operatively connected with said univcrsal bar.

3. in a type-operating machine, thereinbination with a plurality of type-operating meclninisms, of a plunger corresponding to each of said mechanisms, an electro-inagnet, a bar actuated by said eleetro-magnet and adapted to engage any one of said plungers, 21 hey lever corresponding to each of said Mangers and adapted to move it into position to be engaged by said bar and mechanically independent from its corresponding type-operating mechanism, a stationary electrical contact, a universal bar adapted to be moved by direct contact with the key levers and provided with. an electrical contact adapted to engage said stationary electrical contact, a source of electrical supply, and conductors connecting said contatjzts, electromagnet and source' t. In a type-opeating machine, the combination with a plurality ol type-operating mechanisms, of an electric motor for opcrating such mechanisms, a unitary means for closing and opening the circuit of the electric motor, a key corresponding to each type-tiperating mechanism but mechanically independent therefrom and each arranged to operate the unitary circuit closing; and opening means, and a plurality of means operated by the said keys respectively and ind prudently of the circuit closing, and opening means for moving the set of mechanism individual. to that key into position for engagement with the motor, substantially as set forth.

in testimony whereof I all'ix my signature, llt'pttfitl'ltft of two witnesses,

BllNJAlvilN P. FINIGAN. Wi tnesses:

t. J; l auun'r,

J. to. BARKER. 

